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It is serious, and we're trying to sort it. Eurogamer are well aware of the inappropriate content. It's derived from us trying to work with third parties with poor content control. We'll hopefully have it expunged from the site soon.

As an introduction I am the Ad Trafficker for Gamer Network and manage the current advertisement on RPS as well as Eurogamer.

I will do my best to reply to each of you individually about the current ad issues you have been noticing if applicable.

My priority is your enjoyment when using the site and to stay on top of unfavourable ads.

However believe me when I say this is no easy feat... we have a set of default rules that do in theory block the unfavourable ads. But the sneaky ones here are the advertisers who will stretch every working minute to work around the rules and get their ads live.

You will notice this is the case with ads such as the one that was for 'Male Gamers Only' - I have blocked these guys from all our remnant ad providers a number of times.. however about once a month they manage to create new accounts and we have to block them again.

With this in mind and the frequency of ads which we display across all territories (in the thousands) please continue to make me aware of these issues and like I said I will continue to do everything I can to get these removed.

So you are aware current providers are in fact under review and will be removed if they fail to up their current standards.

"Quantacat's name is still recognised even if he watches on with detached eyes like Peter Molyneux over a cube in 3D space, staring at it with tears in his eyes, softly whispering... Someday they'll get it."

You will notice this is the case with ads such as the one that was for 'Male Gamers Only' - I have blocked these guys from all our remnant ad providers a number of times.. however about once a month they manage to create new accounts and we have to block them again.

Whether or not it benefits RPS, this isn't the sort of thing I'll ever let in my home. Sorry.

"Quantacat's name is still recognised even if he watches on with detached eyes like Peter Molyneux over a cube in 3D space, staring at it with tears in his eyes, softly whispering... Someday they'll get it."

"Quantacat's name is still recognised even if he watches on with detached eyes like Peter Molyneux over a cube in 3D space, staring at it with tears in his eyes, softly whispering... Someday they'll get it."

I appreciate you taking the time to inform us of the situation. I think we all figured it was along those lines but it helps to actually hear it. It's quite frustrating to be told you can't play a game because you're female :(

I appreciate you taking the time to inform us of the situation. I think we all figured it was along those lines but it helps to actually hear it. It's quite frustrating to be told you can't play a game because you're female :(

Sadly its just one of those ads that keep reappearing.

We deal with thousands of ads on a daily basis and always remove these guys whenever they do appear.

They do not reflect our personal views hence we will take no delay in removing these from the site.

We will always go out of our way to provide advertising that is both relevant and appealing but along side this we have third party revenue stream.

These are protected by a set of default rules created by us that typically keep us safe but you got to put your self in the shoes of an advertiser who doesn't particularly care about reader engagement and might not necessarily have an appealing product.

They are going to do everything they can to get around these rules and we do everything we can to shut them down as soon as they do.

So we really appreciate each of you politely flagging this with us so we can do the right thing.

The thing is, it's tricky, we all get that it's tricky, you have to work with third parties, follow their requirements, and you simply can't afford to put your livelihood on the line by taking the adverts down entirely until you can get it sorted.

I just sometimes wish the same consideration would be given to games developers, who are often just following publisher guidelines in creating testosterone driven fantasies, and trying to do the best with what they have. And the publishers are doing it because it turns out that sort of thing is what sells, and they don't want to risk their jobs either.

RPS often acts like it's just down to a few people going "okay, we'll stop objectifying women in games" and the problem can be solved... when as stuff like this demonstrates, it's a lot more complicated than that.

The thing is, it's tricky, we all get that it's tricky, you have to work with third parties, follow their requirements, and you simply can't afford to put your livelihood on the line by taking the adverts down entirely until you can get it sorted.

I just sometimes wish the same consideration would be given to games developers, who are often just following publisher guidelines in creating testosterone driven fantasies, and trying to do the best with what they have. And the publishers are doing it because it turns out that sort of thing is what sells, and they don't want to risk their jobs either.

RPS often acts like it's just down to a few people going "okay, we'll stop objectifying women in games" and the problem can be solved... when as stuff like this demonstrates, it's a lot more complicated than that.

Not really. How often does a major publisher's release consist of essentially a picture of a topless woman and the words "Fuck me, my lord" on it? Fairly rarely.

There is a difference between the questionable "Must we focus on Shepard's ass?" ads and the "So... apparently this shitty RTS is a porn simulator" ads.

Last edited by gundato; 14-01-2014 at 03:15 PM.

Steam: Gundato
PSN: Gundato
If you want me on either service, I suggest PMing me here first to let me know who you are.

Seems to be a catch all ad system that does not have a strict requirement to be a part of. Or easy to hide their true intentions. Or no ad vetting done. Should that not be a service by the ad system, curating ads before they can even be used?

You're right that the ads are worse than anything in any mainstream game, I just don't see how that doesn't strengthen my argument, rather than diminish it.

Maybe I am misunderstanding your argument, but most of us are complaining about the evony-esque ads. Stuff like Shepard's ass or Lara Croft in a semi-transparent tank top are annoying but within the realm of what you expect with gaming. We would prefer not to have to expect that, but baby steps.

This is the difference between someone saying "No hardcore porn" and "No lingerie ads".

Steam: Gundato
PSN: Gundato
If you want me on either service, I suggest PMing me here first to let me know who you are.

I think so - what I'm getting at the ads we are seeing are at least as bad as the sort of things in games that RPS complains about, and often a lot worse.

I both agree with RPS's stance on games, and I understand that making a site clean of all this stuff is hard to do. But sex sells, and it sells video games too as well as being good for adverts. RPS want to to acknowledge that it's not easy to filter this stuff out, and it's not like they can just turn the adverts off entirely until they get this sorted, as its their income, and their livelihood.

It's similar for a lot of developers. That sort of imagery sells games, and yes I'd like it to stop but you're inevitably asking for publishers and developers to put their livelihoods on the line by getting rid of this stuff, or casting more strong female protagonists (which research shows causes games to sell worse). But it's not that simple for them either. But consideration is rarely given to that.

I think its a valid request. they dont have to comply and you dont have to buy their shit. the problem however is that games are entertainment and generally publishers as opposed to developers define the image of a game, even if it has nothing to do with it.

games, movies, TV or music. however, you could go by what the developers wanted and try and either ignore the publishers and give them your money anyway, or obtain said entertainment through other means and try and find a way to pay the creators directly.

"Quantacat's name is still recognised even if he watches on with detached eyes like Peter Molyneux over a cube in 3D space, staring at it with tears in his eyes, softly whispering... Someday they'll get it."